Difference between revisions of "Stratford-upon-Avon"
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The town became home to the Shakespeare family in 1551 when John Shakespeare (1531-1601), originally a farmer, moved to the town from Snitterfield, around 5 miles to the north-east. In the 1560s, [[William Shakespeare]], who is regarded by many as "England's national poet", was born in the town. The world-renown actor, poet and playwright was baptized in the town on 26 April 1564.<ref name="BL" /> Shakespeare's sister, Joan, was born 5 years later and is the only one of John Shakepeare's 8 children to have known living descendants in the 21st century. | The town became home to the Shakespeare family in 1551 when John Shakespeare (1531-1601), originally a farmer, moved to the town from Snitterfield, around 5 miles to the north-east. In the 1560s, [[William Shakespeare]], who is regarded by many as "England's national poet", was born in the town. The world-renown actor, poet and playwright was baptized in the town on 26 April 1564.<ref name="BL" /> Shakespeare's sister, Joan, was born 5 years later and is the only one of John Shakepeare's 8 children to have known living descendants in the 21st century. | ||
| − | The Startford-upon-Avon | + | The Startford-upon-Avon Canal was constructed from 1793-1816, linking the River Avon at Stratford to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at King's Norton via the Grand Union Canal. The canal is notable for Edstone Aqueduct, located around 4.5 miles north-west of Stratford, the longest cast-iron aqueduct in England. In the early 19th century, Stratford was a key inland port. The [[Industrial Revolution]] (c. 1760-1840) was otherwise relatively quiet for Stratford, although some industries did grow locally including the ''Flower & Sons Brewery'' which, established by Edward Fordham Flower |
(1805-18830) was operational from 1831 till 1967, when it was bought out by Whitbread.<ref>[https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/article/flowers-brewery-statford-upon-avon Flower's Brewery, Stratford-upon-Avon - Our Warwickshire]</ref> | (1805-18830) was operational from 1831 till 1967, when it was bought out by Whitbread.<ref>[https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/article/flowers-brewery-statford-upon-avon Flower's Brewery, Stratford-upon-Avon - Our Warwickshire]</ref> | ||
Revision as of 23:48, May 13, 2025
| Stratford-upon-Avon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | England |
| Shire county | Warwickshire |
| Population | 30,495 (2021 Census) |
| Area (sq mi) | 14.79 sq mi (38.31 km²) |
| Population density (/sq mi) | 2062/sq mi (796/km²) |
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in Warwickshire, England. With a population of around 30,000, it is close to the northern part of the Cotswolds, a scenic range of hills.
It is world-renown as the birthplace of playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616), and the town attracted over 2.7 million visitors per year prior to 2019.[1] Popular tourists attractions in the town include Shakespeare's birthplace, an early 16th-century timber framed house on Henley Street, the 15th century cottage of Ann Hathaway (Shakespeare's wife) and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. A trail of Stratford's tourist attractions, known as the "Historic Spine", begins at Shakespeare's Henley Street birthplace and ends at the Holy Trinity Church, which is where Shakespeare was baptised and buried.
Stratford is approximately 92 miles north-west of central London and 22 miles south of Birmingham city centre.
History
Around 1 mile away at the village of Tiddington are the remains of a Roman fort. The fort was probably occupied between the 1st and 5th centuries AD. During the era of the Roman Empire, the site at which Stratford-upon-Avon is now located was the site of a Roman road or 'street', which is referenced in the name of the town.
An Anglo-Saxon monastery, later destroyed by Vikings, may have existed in Stratford at the site of the Holy Trinity Church prior to the 11th century.
According to the Domesday Book, a survey completed at the behest of William the Conqueror, the town had recorded population of 29 households in 1086, putting it in the top 40% of English settlements in size at the time. At the time, Stratford (recorded in the book as Stradforde) formed part of the lands of the Bishop of Worcester and the now-defunct Pathlow Hundred of Warwickshire.[2] The name Pathlow survives in the name of a hamlet around 3 miles to the north of the town.
The town became home to the Shakespeare family in 1551 when John Shakespeare (1531-1601), originally a farmer, moved to the town from Snitterfield, around 5 miles to the north-east. In the 1560s, William Shakespeare, who is regarded by many as "England's national poet", was born in the town. The world-renown actor, poet and playwright was baptized in the town on 26 April 1564.[3] Shakespeare's sister, Joan, was born 5 years later and is the only one of John Shakepeare's 8 children to have known living descendants in the 21st century.
The Startford-upon-Avon Canal was constructed from 1793-1816, linking the River Avon at Stratford to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at King's Norton via the Grand Union Canal. The canal is notable for Edstone Aqueduct, located around 4.5 miles north-west of Stratford, the longest cast-iron aqueduct in England. In the early 19th century, Stratford was a key inland port. The Industrial Revolution (c. 1760-1840) was otherwise relatively quiet for Stratford, although some industries did grow locally including the Flower & Sons Brewery which, established by Edward Fordham Flower (1805-18830) was operational from 1831 till 1967, when it was bought out by Whitbread.[4]
Culture
Churches
The most notable church in Stratford is the Holy Trinity, where William Shakespeare was baptized in 1564.[3]
Pubs
The oldest pub in Stratford is said to be the Garrick Inn, with part of that building reputedly dating to the 14th century.
Politics
The town is the centre of the Stratford-on-Avon parliamentary constituency, which was represented by Tory Nadhim Zahawi from 2010 until 2024. The Italian-born British politician Manuela Perteghella of the Liberal Democrats became Member of Parliament for Stratford-on-Avon in July 2024.